US thin-film manufacturer First Solar and German EPC firm Belectric have connected 34.5MW of solar farms in the UK.
The three sites, in southern and eastern England, will use First Solar’s thin-film modules and continue the pair’s partnership.
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The largest of the three projects is the 14MW Marsh Solar Farm in Wiltshire, owned by German asset manager KGAL’s ESPF 3 renewables fund.
The 10.5MW Weston Longville Solar Farm in Norfolk and the 10MW Holton Solar Farm in Suffolk are both owned by the BBIP infrastructure fund.
“As the United Kingdom embraces the potential of clean and affordable solar electricity, these projects represent a new milestone in the country’s development of a sustainable solar energy portfolio,” said Stefan Degener, managing director, First Solar GmbH.
All three have been built with reduced environmental impact in mind. The Holton and Marsh Solar farms were both built on abandoned airfields. All three include either habitat management plans or biodiversity improvements.
“The United Kingdom is a fast growing photovoltaic market and these plants are an important demonstration of our combined ability to effectively deliver clean, reliable solar energy in the United Kingdom,” said Martin Zembsch, chief business development officer at Belectric. “The plants were completed and grid-connected on schedule and on budget.”
All the First Solar/Belectric sites were connected in time for the most recent reduction in support under the Renewable Obligation programme, the UK's main support mechanism for large-scale solar..